On October 21 the NA Standing Committees’ regular sittings were held.

At the NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs, which presided Mher Shahgeldyan, the Chairman of the Committee, it was decided in the second reading to present for discussion of parliament the government submitted draft law “On Making Addenda to the RA Law ‘On the Protection of Population in Case of Emergency Situations.’”

Aghvan Vardanyan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, presented for discussion of the Committee the government submitted draft law “On Making Amendments to the RA Law ‘On Social Security of the Military Servants and Their Family Members.”

In the part of pensions the rise will be about 275m AMD and in the part of the financial repayment will be 236m AMD. With the endorsement of the Committee the bill of the draft law will be put on the agenda of NA autumn and forthcoming four-day sittings.

The NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, presiding by Rafik Petrosyan, the Chairman of the Committee, debated the government-submitted draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Criminal Code,” which in the first reading presented Mnatsakan Sargsyan, RA Deputy General Prosecutor. Mr. Sargsyan informed that after taking into force the law “On Alternative Service,” it has violated the principle of equality of all before the law, affirmed by the article 16 of the Constitution, because the evasive persons of the alternative service go unpunished, in contrast to the persons evading the regular in turn recruitment of the military service. With the endorsement of the Committee the draft law will be put on the big agenda of the four-day sittings.

The government submitted draft law “On Making Amendment and Addenda to the RA Civil Code” in the first reading presented Atom Janjughazyan, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy. With the endorsement of the committee the draft law will put on the big agenda of the four-day sittings.

The other government-submitted draft law “On Making Amendment to the RA Law ‘On Local Self-Government’” for the first reading presented Vache Terteryan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration. With the endorsement of the committee this draft law also will be put on the big draft agenda of NA four- day sittings.

David Harutiunyan, RA Justice Minister, presented the draft laws of the new texts of RA statements concerning the convention of criminal right “On Corruption” signed in Strasburg on January 27, 1999 presented by RA President on April 9, 2004 to NA President and additional protocol of the criminal law convention “On Corruption” signed in Strasburg on May 15, 2003. With the endorsement of the Committee those draft laws also will be put on the draft agenda of NA four-day sittings.

By the decision of the Committee, the government submitted draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Criminal Code” with the endorsement of the Committee, for adopting in the second reading, will also be put on the big draft agenda of NA four-day sittings.

The discussion of the bills “On Making Addendum ‘On State Non Trade Organizations,’” “On Making Amendments to the RA Code ‘On Administrative Offences,’” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Civil Code,” “On Making Addenda to the RA Law ‘On Social Security Cards,”’ “On Making Amendments to the RA Law ‘On Individual Data,’” “On Making Amendments to the RA Law ‘On the Service in RA Courts’ Staff’ and ‘RA Court Formation’” and “On the State Protection of the Persons Participating in the Criminal Court Procedure”were delayed till 30 days.

At the NA Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment, which presided Gagik Mkheyan, the Chairman of the Committee, with the endorsement of the Committee it was decided to present for the first reading the draft laws “On Making Addenda to the RA Law ‘On Obligatory Payments of Public Services’ Regulations’” and “On RA Budgetary System,” which presented Koryun Atoyan, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy.

The government- submitted draft law “On Approving the Report of 2005- 2007 Program Execution of the Privatization of the State Property” in the first reading presented Karine Kirakosyan, the Head of the Department of the State Property Management adjunct to the Government.

The government-submitted draft law “On Approving the Report of 2005- 2007 Program Execution of the Privatization of the State Property” with the endorsement of the Committee was put on the big agenda.

The government-submitted draft law “On Making Amendments to the RA Law ‘On State Duty’” in the first reading presented Simon Papyan, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection.

The government-submitted draft law “On Making Amendments to the RA Law ‘On State Duty”’ with the endorsement of the Committee was put on the big agenda.

The government- submitted draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law ‘On Minimum Monthly Salary’”, “On Making Amendments to the RA Law ‘On Social Security of the Military Servants and the Their Family Members”’, “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law ‘On State Pensions’” in the first reading presented Aghvan Vardanyan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.

In the draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law ‘On Minimum Monthly Salary’” the proposed amendment in the bill - “13000 drams” replace by the words “15000 drams,” it means that from January 1, the minimum salary from 13000 drams becomes 15000 drams.

In the Article 25 of RA Law of the draft law “On Making Amendments to the RA Law ‘On Social Security of the Military Servants and Their Family Members” it is envisaged to raise the appointed pensions by 20% the private military servicemen, who became disabled while fulfilling their service obligations as a result of participating in the military actions during RA defense, as well as the families of the deceased private military servicemen.

By draft law it is envisaged to raise the pensions of the disabled in average by 20% from January 1, 2006.

The draft laws, presented by Aghvan Vardanyan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, with the endorsement of the Committee were put on the big agenda.

The NA Committee on Financial-Credit, Budgetary and Economic Affairs headed by Gagik Minasyan decided to present 8 issues for the agenda of the sixth session and 6 issues for the agenda of the four-day sittings. All legislative initiatives, discussed at the sitting, were endorsed.

The government proposed to review the threshold of the minimum salary, having the rise by 2000 AMD. The initiative of amending the law “On Minimum Salary” in case of approving it the minimum threshold of 15.000 for monthly salary will take into force.

The draft on making addenda and amendments “On Organizing and Holding RA Check-ups” has been repeatedly debated in this committee, in the result of which Armen Alaverdyan, Deputy head of the Tax State Service, presented the edited version of the document.

Andranik Manukyan, Minister of Transport and Communication, presented for endorsement the legislative package “On Automobile Roads” and “On Making Addenda to RA Code on Administrative Offences.” As the minister informed, today the republic has a road of 8000 km, 95% of the roads of inter-state importance, 15% - of the republican importance are restored, but in general the roads of local importance aren’t restored. By the minister’s presented next drafts it is proposed to make amendments in the laws “On Post Communication” and “On Payment-Calculation Systems and Payment-Calculation Organizations.”

With the initiative “On Making Amendments and Addenda to RA Code on Administrative Offences” the Government tries to expand the frame of state control in the spheres of trade and services.